Satellite applications

Advances in satellite technology have given rise to a healthy satellite services sector that
provides various services to broadcasters, Internet service providers (ISPs), governments, the
military, and other sectors. There are three types of communication services that satellites
provide: telecommunications, broadcasting, and data communications. Telecommunication
services include telephone calls and services provided to telephone companies, as well as
wireless, mobile, and cellular network providers.

Broadcasting services include radio and television delivered directly to the consumer and mobile
broadcasting services. DTH, or satellite television, services (such as the DirecTV and DISH
Network services in the United States) are received directly by households. Cable and network
programming is delivered to local stations and affiliates largely via satellite. Satellites also play
an important role in delivering programming to cell phones and other mobile devices, such as
personal digital assistants and laptops.
Data communications involve the transfer of data from one point to another. Corporations and
organizations that require financial and other information to be exchanged between their various
locations use satellites to facilitate the transfer of data through the use of very small-aperture terminal
(VSAT) networks. With the growth of the Internet, a significant amount of Internet traffic goes through
satellites, making ISPs one of the largest customers for satellite services.

Satellite communications technology is often used during natural disasters and emergencies
when land-based communication services are down. Mobile satellite equipment can be deployed
to disaster areas to provide emergency communication services.

One major technical disadvantage of satellites, particularly those in geostationary orbit, is an

inherent delay in transmission. While there are ways to compensate for this delay, it makes some
applications that require real-time transmission and feedback, such as voice communications, not
ideal for satellites.